Headquarters for diplomatic banquets

Israeli diplomats fed up with a protocol requiring they entertain guests at less-than-fancy kosher eateries abroad have asked for the rules to be relaxed, only to be overruled by a religious Jewish cabinet minister.

Trade Minister Eli Yishai, a member of the Orthodox Shas party, persuaded the Foreign Ministry not to accept the appeal by dozens of Israeli envoys to be allowed to hold official functions in non-kosher restaurants, Maariv newspaper said.

According to Maariv, the ambassadors had complained that in many foreign postings, most kosher restaurants are fast-food establishments far below the standards of diplomatic dining.

Must be fun representing a theocracy – especially if your brain and your appetite have made it to the real world.



  1. OhForTheLoveOf says:

    far below the standards of diplomatic dining.

    Right… The taxpayer should eat crappy food. The representative of the taxpayer, using the taxpayer’s money, should dine like a king.

    It’s good to know that Israel’s politicals are as bad as ours when it comes to wasting money on this crap.

  2. morram says:

    [Double post. – ed.]

  3. morram says:

    We have several jews in our programming group as well as vegans so when we have potlucks we’re always asked to bring in meatless or fish and chicken dishes only. I always bring in a “meatless chili” that has lots of bacon and other porks bits in it. Dog it you should see them woof the stuff down and most of them will consume two or three bowls of the stuff! I wonder if their god is bothered by that?

  4. BubbaRay says:

    At the risk of offending some who read this, I’ll apologize in advance. Why in the world would I let some religion dictate what I can or cannot eat? I suppose I just don’t get it. Please pass me that Cook’s ham with butter beans and jalapeño cornbread like grandma used to make.

  5. Angel H. Wong says:

    Kosher Chinese restaurants… Yuck, it’s like the ingredient list of Evangelic pizza sauce: No salt, not spices, no tomatoes.

  6. KVolk says:

    Religons and diets…a very odd mix for sure.

  7. KVolk says:

    Religions-sigh-no points off for spelling I hope.

  8. Misanthropic Scott says:

    #1 – OFTLO,

    Kosher does NOT mean dining like a king. In fact, the complaint here is precisely that the kosher food is krap. Note though, it didn’t say inexpensive krap. IME, kosher food is far more expensive than comparable non-kosher food. Often, it’s also worse.

    I made the mistake of eating in a “French” restaurant near my house without realizing it was kosher. Good, Kosher, French: Choose any two.

    #2 – morram,

    Here in NYC, we have, within a few blocks of each other, 3 Kosher Vegetarian Indian restaurants. That might help with your situation.

    #3 – BubbaRay,

    For the same reason that anyone would let an N,000 year old mythology dictate any other part of their life. Do you think it’s worse to let it affect your food than your sex life??!!?

  9. Fred Flint says:

    You guys should check out what you’re allowed to eat and not allowed to eat after you have a heart attack and the bypass surgery doesn’t work.

    Now those are the people who should be complaining – to god or allah or the FSM, I guess.

  10. John says:

    People that have never been to Israel don’t realize that a VAST majority of Israelis are secular Jews who eat whatever the hell they want, wherever they want. I don’t even really believe this is followed. I would put a lot of money on Israeli diplomats taking guests to very nice restaurants. And if they still wanted to eat kosher, they could simply order something kosher. This is pretty stupid.

  11. edwinrogers says:

    Ironically, the only kosher restaurant I know of in Auckland is run by a Muslim family.

  12. Jason says:

    “I always bring in a “meatless chili” that has lots of bacon and other porks bits in it. Dog it you should see them woof the stuff down and most of them will consume two or three bowls of the stuff! I wonder if their god is bothered by that? ”

    Beats me- was yours offended when I spit in your bowl?

  13. OhForTheLoveOf says:

    #8 – Scott… I’m commenting on what the article said. “in many foreign postings, most kosher restaurants are fast-food establishments far below the standards of diplomatic dining.

    It didn’t say, “below the standards of healthy dining.” It said “diplomatic” eating.

  14. Bryan Carney says:

    #3 I think you’re stupid for tricking your friends into this. It’s one thing to think someone’s ideas are lame. It’s another to disrespect their wishes. Shame on you!

    As an atheist in a theist family, I’ve found it’s better for me to cherish people for what they are than what they aren’t.

    Shame.

  15. A_B says:

    This is a situation where I think both sides are wrong.

    Like #1/13, the diplomats do in fact want to eat in fancy restaurants on the “people’s” dime. “the standards of diplomatic dining” is just code for, “we want really, really expensive meals.” Diplomacy doesn’t require fancy meals. (Just booze)

    However, the Trade Minister’s position is also idiotic because, as #10 and the article note, most Israelis don’t keep Kosher. Let them eat what they want if they don’t.

    I mean, c’mon, bacon is delicious. 😉

  16. Angel H. Wong says:

    #15

    They keep it that way because doing forbidden stuff is good; that way eating forbidden foods is also tastier.

    Besides, what could be nastier than masturbating or having sex before getting married?

  17. BubbaRay says:

    #8, Scott, Do you think it’s worse to let it affect your food than your sex life??!!?

    I let religion affect me as little as possible, except for having to interact with the religious which is sometimes painful.

  18. morram says:

    #8 – send seven bus tickets for Cal to NYC and they’re all yours
    Jason, I don’t have a god or eat chili, don’t be so weak dude.
    Well Bryan, between their constant preaching and lack of bathing a trick or two on my part is ok I think.
    If your life is seriously based on superstition and idiot ideas maybe it’s time your god dipped you in.

  19. tallwookie says:

    Religion Strikes Again

  20. joshua says:

    #18….morani….oooops…I mean morram……..:)
    Not only do your co-workers dare to not eat meat or keep kosher, but they preach and stink….you need to file an harrassment suit, or quit and go elsewhere for work…..or get off your fucking pedestal and stop being an elitest bigot.

  21. morram says:

    How so joshua? Bigotry is defined as an irrational dislike or intolerance. There’s nothing irrational about being contemptuous of irrationality. I think you’re being over sensitive. It’s not like I pee’d in the coffee pot or brought in Almond Roca I made after cleaning out the cat’s litter box. Ok I admit I adulterated the third tub of Co$co Licorice Ropes after the jews stole and ate them all, but hey they never contribute at all and act like savages (unless they’re in box head mode or finger combing their curly sideburns), so maybe I should go to a catlickers confessional and get a wavier on that one (they still ate them, even if they smelled pooi). Can’t say what you are, what you’ve done or why you’re such a wiener, but I’ve been around the world several times, fought in two wars (for the USA side) and seen enough of this “give the losers a break” attitude that’s been slowly flushing America down the world toilet to know I have a choose and don’t have to facilitate it. So piss all over yourself and keep changing the diapers of your religious freaks.

  22. Gershon Schwartz says:

    i was disapointed that you all fell for this stupid politicians ploy waste more tax payers money!!
    As americans you should know that kosher food is healthier and tastier than non, afterall 95% of the food that you can buy in an american supermarket is kosher!! Heinz, Hellman, Hersheys even Stuckies . Look for thr OU or OK symbol in small letters on the package and that will tel you its kosher, Many non Jews prefer a kosher product to a non one as a quality issue. I can also take you to some high class places were the food is kosher and any politician who says the opposite is just a spoiled brat from the Foreign Ministry .
    Hey if a kosher restaurant isn’t good enough for them let them take there friends out on their inflated salary, they make at least ten time what the average Israel makes anyways, they can afford it!! Don’t feel sorry for them , they are just a bunch of pigs , pun intended!!!

  23. BubbaRay says:

    #22, Gershon Schwartz, I agree, some of the finest food on the planet is kosher. Who can do without kosher salt??

  24. Misanthropic Scott says:

    #13 – OFTLO,

    I know. I’m still calling food that doesn’t taste good enough to wine and dine people you’re trying to influence “krap”.

    I also think a few of these posts are going beyond a discussion of bureaucracy, theocracy, and food quality and crossed the line into true antisemitism. Bigotry of this form indicates a complete lack of reason and education. For those of you who have made statements that sound as if Jews are really any different than any other group, I’d suggest some serious soul-searching to determine whether this is the sort of meme you wish to propagate. You should also consider whether this is the image of your brain that you wish to present. Let’s keep these discussions on a higher level please.


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